driftwood-devotion http://driftwood-devotion.posterous.com magical handmade driftwood altars and spirit boxes posterous.com Tue, 19 Oct 2010 06:26:00 -0700 a note from the artist http://driftwood-devotion.posterous.com/a-note-from-the-artist http://driftwood-devotion.posterous.com/a-note-from-the-artist

I love to create.  I'd even go as far as to say I HAVE to create. Be it singing, through song writing, painting, acting, there is something inside me that loves the alchemy of 'no-thing + intention + magic = creation!'

The idea of these driftwood altars and spirit boxes is inspired by seeing shrines to The Blessed Mother, Jesus, Padre Pio and St Francis in Venice (my father's birthplace) when we visited for family holidays as a child. There was magic in the dusty, faded but beautiful little altars. They were everywhere; on street corners, high in the walls of houses and as part of grand church facades. Flowers and offerings were made daily and candles were always burning, keeping the spirit alive and mesmerizing me.  I was sure I could see eyes moving while lips whispered prayers and magical incantations.

I search for driftwood on the banks of The River Thames or many shores of wonderful Gower beaches near to where I live. Maybe once a ship, part of a house, a great oak, an old table, cheap chip board or rich mahogany, the driftwood has journeyed far and wide; bleached by the sun and battered by rain. It's almost a metaphor for a spiritual journey. Once something, then nothing, then something again; together then apart then carried by the waves, mere flotsam and jetsam.  I like to think of each piece having its own unique history and possibility of further transformation. Where did it come from? Where is it going?

It is my intention to take some of these scattered pieces and reassemble them, transform them into something that resembles my memories of those sacred altars I saw as a child. Each altar is like a jigsaw, evolving one part at a time.  I’m always looking out for that missing piece (peace...?).

Each altar is unique and the contents intentionally thought out. However, it is encouraged you add to or take away that which fits with you. You may wish to put some personal photos, trinkets and memories in the altar, all of which will add to the resonance and make it uniquely yours. Maybe you would like to commission an altar from the beginning, giving direction on words to be included, style and icon (or not) of focus? You could maybe honour a birth, a death, a healing or another right of passage?

My hope is that these driftwood altars inspire you as the altars and shrines I saw as a boy inspired me.

Peace.

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Tue, 19 Oct 2010 05:27:00 -0700 Drifwood Devotion http://driftwood-devotion.posterous.com/fw-drifwood-devotion http://driftwood-devotion.posterous.com/fw-drifwood-devotion

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Sun, 17 Oct 2010 14:48:00 -0700 Driftwood Devotion http://driftwood-devotion.posterous.com/fw-driftwood-devotion http://driftwood-devotion.posterous.com/fw-driftwood-devotion

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/803817/moon_statue.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4TeMZTnskD8l steve b altar boy steve b